Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Thoughts on "reverse racism"

NOTE These comments are from two postings I made on Facebook. I'm combining them here as a single blog, with a few minor modifications.

Interesting ... I just had an extended Facebook argument about the existence of
"reverse racism". I assert that racism is NOT limited to prejudice
against black people. Thus, I think so-called "reverse racism"
[prejudice against whites] surely exists. My definition of racism is
prejudging people on the basis of race (race is a fictional concept not
recognized by modern science - see here). A strict reading of my definition precludes any meaning for the phrase reverse racism - there is only racism, regardless of the races involved.

Whites have been in the
majority in the USA for a long time, and that has allowed the development of an "institutionalized"
prejudice against blacks now called "white privilege". White privilege
is rooted in racism, therefore, which is in turn rooted in instinctual tribalism.
I can understand the reasons that might lead to some blacks becoming
deeply prejudiced against whites. Unfortunately, that is basically
sanctioning what I call racism. What we need to eliminate ultimately is
prejudice based on human instincts embedded in our genes - it will not
be easy. But it does no good to NOT have conversations with others who
may have different viewpoints. Understanding someone requires an effort
to see things from their perspective. Not making that effort only
perpetuates prejudice.

This single phrase "reverse racism" can have multiple definitions. Your
opinions about the phrase depend heavily on what meaning you assign to it. There may be others, in addition to the three I've offered below.

1. a negative pre-judgment by blacks against all whites - black against white prejudice being the "reverse" of white against black prejudice

There clearly are those who fall under #1. It can't be denied that
such people exist and there may or may not be valid reasons for it. Returning tit for tat is quite understandable if you've experienced race-based injustice. However, this
clearly simple racism, if you define it as I've done.

2. institutionalized favoritism for blacks

This might include such things as so-called "affirmative action"
programs, which seem to anger many whites, especially conservatives. At the superficial level,
this sort of thing can be characterized as reverse racism. However, the
motivation for it is to be to address a long, continuing period of
discrimination against blacks as a result of white privilege. It's not
really so much of an attack on whites as it is an attack on white
privilege. Black people deserve the opportunity to prove themselves to
be competent, and if they're given some benefit of the doubt, then
perhaps this is the start down a path to eventual elimination of white
privilege, whereby all are always given strictly equal opportunity.
It's a small price to pay for centuries of discrimination against blacks
and serves many positive ends. The whole "competency" argument often
thrown up against affirmative action falls apart when you realize that
many white people who have been given the benefit of white privilege
have proven to be incompetent! Whiteness doesn't equate with
competence, just as blackness doesn't equate to incompetence. The
examples (counterexamples to racial stereotypes) are all around us!!

3. opposition to institutionalized white privilege

The idea that someone opposed to white privilege is automatically
exhibiting "reverse racism" is obviously fallacious. Yes, blacks
prejudiced against all whites (i.e., black against white racists) certainly
would be likely supporters of doing away with white privilege.
Nevertheless, that doesn't apply equally to all those fighting this
battle for equal justice and opportunity. Many of those seeking an end
to white privilege are not at all black. Frankly, it's a position I
think should be the choice of all rational people. I came to understand that the racism I encountered as a boy was not consistent with my experiences as an adult - racial stereotypes were demonstrably false - you can't claim to know anything about a particular human being solely on the basis of race. If you must judge people, do so on the basis of what they say and, more importantly, on what they do!

I observe that racism is a form of tribalism. We evolved as creatures who depend on social interactions for our survival. Those in our "tribe" were much more important to us than those from other tribes. Other tribes represented competition for resources and survival. Other tribes had different cultures, different ideas, different religions, and in some cases, had a different physical appearance. Tribalism is deeply embedded in our genetic heritage - it was an important survival trait. To be different is to be a threat.

Any social or cultural grouping can be considered a tribe, so there can be tribes within tribes (hunters, gatherers, scientists, clergy, carpenters, plumbers, etc.). Minor differences in skin coloration, eye and nose shapes, etc. have stimulated tribalistic reactions whereby those who look slightly different are seen as an "inferior race". Culturally assigned roles may have no valid basis in abilities. This sort of thinking is in opposition to the facts as we know them from science. Science tells us that all humans evolved from our beginnings in Africa - we all contain some of that original DNA and so all of us are "black" in that sense. Race has become the cultural equivalent of the appendix - it no longer has any functionality and at times can be very harmful to us. We need to discard the refuse of tribalism/racism and strive to work together for the common good. Races are mythical - there is only one race: the human race! It will not be easy to overcome our tendency for tribalism/racism, but we need to do so as soon as possible.

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About Me

I'm an opinionated person whose career has been focused mostly on severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. I don't like to be pigeonholed by category and believe that my collective views on various subjects can't be described in simple terms. You might find some or most of what I have to say about things to be aggravating, or even infuriating. I have no problem with that - so long as we stay away from ad hominem attacks, we can use this blog to argue. I refuse to continue arguments that devolve into personal insults - that will end my participation. My mind can be changed about many things, but I won't do so just to please you and I hope you'll not do so to please me. I learn from disagreements and don't respond well to sycophants attempting to curry my favor with flattery.